%ISOlat1; %ISOlat2; %ISOnum; %ISOpub; ]> The Rarest BALLAD that ever was seen, / Of the Blind BEGGER's DAUGHTER of Bednal-Green. University of California - Santa Barbara The Early Modern Center English Broadside Ballad Archive (EBBA) Director Patricia Fumerton Associate Director Carl G Stahmer ?-? Early Modern Center, University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 07/06/2021 37256

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Patricia Fumerton Early Modern Center - English Department University of California Santa Barbara, CA 93105 United States of America EMail: pfumer@english.ucsb.edu

T127464 1 NONE Blind Beggar of Bethnal Green IT was a blind beggar that long lost his sight, / He had a fair daughter most pleasant and bright, British Library - Bagford Editor none none none none Information in this section of the Source Description refers to the original ballad manuscript. 1: 43 1: 44 The Rarest BALLAD that ever was seen, / Of the Blind BEGGER's DAUGHTER of Bednal-Green. The Rarest BALLAD that ever was seen, Of the Blind BEGGAR's DAUGHTER of Bednal-Green. Printer W. Onley ?-? W. Onley, C. Bates

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 Early Modern Center Ballad Project Keyword Taxonomy advice affliction / health alcohol Americas animals / nature Bible / biblical figures buildings / architecture catastrophe children class clothing / appearance country / nation crime death economics / commerce entertainments family Featured folklore gender holidays / seasons infidelity labor / craft law London love maritime marriage military / war monstrosity mythology / Classical news nobility / court politics / government procreation punishment race / ethnicity religious concepts religious figures religious groups royalty rural life servitude sex / sexuality supernatural / magic travel trickery / deceit urban life vice violence virtue vulgar humor youth / age Library of Congress Subject Heading Taxonomy 7/6/2021 Santa Barbara, California, United States of America Ballads, English 17th century Broadsides, England 17th century 7/6/2021 6:36:42 PM XBallad Henderson, Olivia Created XML Version of Ballad 7/6/2021 6:36:42 PM Transcription Supervisor McCants, Kristen Transcription of ballad manuscript 7/6/2021 6:36:42 PM Double-Key Comparison and Merging Zisa, Jessica Transcription of ballad manuscript 7/6/2021 6:36:42 PM Transcriptionist Two McCants, Kristen Transcription of ballad manuscript 7/6/2021 6:36:42 PM Transcriptionist One Al halabieh, Deena Transcription of ballad manuscript 5/6/2019 Bibliographer Kristen McCants Initial Ballad Catalogue Record Created
<seg n="1" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">The Rarest BALLAD that ever was seen,</hi></seg> <seg n="2" rend="left"><hi rend="italic">Of the Blind BEGGER's DAUGHTER of <hi rend="bold">Bednal-Green.</hi></hi></seg>
IT was a blind beggar that long lost his sight, He had a fair daughter most pleasant and bright, And many a gallant brave suitor had she, For none was so comely as pretty Bessee. And though she was of favour most fair, Yet seeing she was but a beggar his heir, Of ancient house-keepers despised was she, Whose sons came as suitors to pretty Bessee. Wherefore in great sorrow fair Bessee did say, Good father and mother, let me go away, To seek out my fortune where-ever it be; The suit was then granted to pretty Bessee. Thus Bessee that was of beauty most bright, Then clad in gray russet, and late in the night, From father and mother alone parted she, Wo sighed and sobbed for pretty Bessee. She went till she came at Stratford near Bow, Then knew she not whither nor which way to go, With tears she lamented her hard destiny, So sad and so heavy was pretty Bessee. She kept on her journey until it was day, And went unto Rumford along the high-way, And at the king's arms entertained was she, So fair and well-favour'd was pretty Bessee. She had not been there one month to an end, But master, and mistress and all was her friend, And every brave gallant that once did her see, Was straight-way in love with pretty Bessee. Great gifts they did send her of silver and gold, And in their songs daily her love they extold; Her beauty was blazed in every degree, So fair and so comely was pretty Bessee. The young men of Rumford in her had their joy, She shew'd herself courteous, but never too coy; And at their commandment still would she be, So fair and so comely was pretty Bessee. Four suitors at once unto her did go, They craved her favour, but still she said, No; I would not wish gentlemen to marry with me: Yet ever they honoured pretty Bessee. The one of them was a gallant young knight, And he came to her disguis'd in the night; The second a gentleman of good degree, Who wooed and sued for pretty Bessee. A merchant of London whose wealth was not small, Was then the third suitor, and proper withal; Her master's own son the fourth man must be, Who swore he would dye for pretty Bessee. And if thou wilt marry with me, quod the knight, I'll make thee a lady with joy and delight, My heart is inthralled by thy fair beauty, Then grant me thy favour, my pretty Bessee. The gentleman said, Come marry with me, In silks and in velvet my Bessee shall be; My heart lives distressed, O hear me, quoth he, And grant me thy love, my pretty Bessee. Let me be thy husband, the merchant did say, Thou shalt live in London most gallant and gay, My ships shall bring home rich jewels for thee, And I will forever love pretty Bessee. Then Bessee she sighed, and thus she did say, My father and mother I mean to obey, First get their good-will, and be faithful to me, And you shall enjoy your pretty Bessee: To everyone this answer she made, Wherefore unto her they joyfully said, This thing to fulfil we all do agree, But where dwells thy father, my pritty Bessee? My father, quoth she, is plain to be seen, The silly blind beggar of Bednal-green,
That daily sits begging for charity, He is the good father of pretty Bessee: His marks and his tokens are known full well, He always is led with a dog and a bell, A silly old man, God knoweth is he, Yet he is the father of pretty Bessee. Nay then, quoth the merchant, thou art not for me; Nor, quoth the inholder, my wife shall not be; I loath (quoth the Gentleman) a beggar's degree, Therefore fare you well, my pretty Bessee. Why then (quod the knight) hap better or worse, I weigh not true love by the weight of the purse, And beauty is beauty in every degree, Then welcome to me, my pretty Bessee. With thee to thy father forthwith will I go; Nay soft, (quoth his kinsman) it must not be so, A beggar's daughter no lady shall be, Then take thy adieu of pretty Bessee. And soon after this, by break of the day, The knight had from Rumford stole Bessee away; The young men of Rumford so sick as may be, Rode after to fetch again pretty Bessee. As swift as the wind to ride they were seen, Until they came near to Bednal-green; And as the knight lighted most courteously, They fought against him for pretty Bessee: But rescue came presently over the plain, Or else the knight for his love there had been slain. The fray being ended, then straight he did see His kinsman come railing at pretty Bessee: Then speak the blind beggar, Altho' I be poor, Rail not against my child at mine own door; Though she be not deckt with velvet and pearl, Yet will I drop angles with thee for my girl; And then if my gold will better her birth, And equal the gold that you lay on the earth, Then neither rail nor grudge you to see The blind beggar's daughter a lady to be: But first I will hear, and have it well known, The gold that you drop shall be all your own. With that they replyed, Contented we be; Then there's (quoth the beggar) for pretty Bessee, With that an angle he cast on the ground, And dropped in angles full three thousand pound; And oftentimes it proved most plain, For the gentleman's one the beggar dropt twain: So as the place whereas he did sit, With gold was covered evey whit: The gentleman having dropt all his store, Said, Beggar, hold, for I have no more, Thou hast fulfilled thy promise aright. Then marry my girl, quoth he to the knight, And here, quoth he, I'll throw you down A hundred pound more to buy her a gown. The gentlemen all that this treasure had seen, Admired the beggar of Bednal-green; And those that were her suitors before, Their flesh for very anger they tore: Thus was their Bessee matcht to a knight, And made a lady in others despight; A fairer lady there never was seen, Than the beggar's daughter of Bednal-green. But of her sumptuous marriage and feast, And what brave lords and knights thither was prest, The Second Part shall set forth to your sight, With marvelous pleasure and wished delight, Of a blind beggar's daughter most fair & bright That late was betrothed to a young knight, All the discourse thereof you may see; But now comes the wedding of pretty Bessee.
WIthin a gallant palace most brave, Adorned with all the cost they could have, This wedding was kept most sumptuously, And all for the love of pretty Bessee. All kind of dainties and delicates sweet, Was brought to their banquet as was thought meet, Partridge, plover, and venison most free, Against the brave wedding of pretty Bessee. This wedding thro' England was spread by report, So that a great number did thither resort Of nobles and gentiles of every degree, And all for the fame of pretty Bessee. To Church then went this gallant young knight, His bride followed after like a lady most bright: With troops of ladies the like was ne'r seen, As went with sweet Bessee of Bednal-green. This wedding being solemnized, then With musick performed by skilful men, The nobles and gentiles sat down at that tide, Each one beholding the beautiful bride. But after their sumptuous dinner was done, To talk and to reason a number begun, Of the blind beggar's daughter most bright, And what with his daughter he gave to the knight: Then spake the nobles, Much Marvel have we, The jolly blind beggar we cannot here see. My lords, quoth the bride, my father so base, He's loath with his presence these states to disgrace. The praise of a woman in question to bring, Before her own face were a flattering thing: We think thy father's baseness (quoth they) Might by thy beauty be clean put away. They had no sooner these pleasant words spoke, But in comes the beggar with a silken cloak, A velvet cap and a feather had he, And now a musician forfooth he would be: And being led in from catching of harm, [He had a Dainty Lute under his arm,] Said, Please you? hear any Musick of me, A songlong I'll sing you of pretty Bessee. With that his lute he twang'd straightway, And thereon began most sweetly to play, And after a lesson was plaid two or three, He strained out his song most delicately, A beggar's daughter did dwell on the green, Who for her beauty may well be a queen, A blith bonny lass, and dainty was she, And many one called her pretty Bessee. Her father had no goods nor no lands,
But begged for a penny all with his hands, And yet for her marriage gave thousands three, Yet still he hath somewhat for pretty Bessee; And if anyone her birth do disdain, Her father is ready with might and with main, To prove she is come of a noble degree, Therefore let none flout at my pretty Bessee. With that the lords and company round, With hearty laughter was ready to sound; At last said the Lords, Full well we may see The bride and the beggar's beholding to thee. With that the bride all blushing did rise, With the fair water all in her bright eyes, Pardon my father, grave nobles (quoth she) That through blind affection thus doteth on me. If this be thy father, the nobles did say, Well may he be proud of this happy day; Yet by his countenance well we may see, His birth with his fortune did never agree; And therefore, blind beggar, we pray thee bewray, And look that the truth to us thou do say, Thy birth and thy parentage what it might be, Even for the love thou bearest to pretty Bessee. Then give me leave, you Gentles each one, A song more to sing, and then i'll be gone; And if that I do not win good report, Then do not give me a groat for my sport: When first our King his fame did advance, And fought for his title in delicate France, In many places great perils past he, But then was not born my pretty Bessee. And in those wars went over to fight Many a brave Duke, a Lord and a Knight, And with them young Monford of courage so free, But then was not born my pretty Bessee: And there did young Monford with a blow o'th' face Lose both his eyes in a very short space; His life also had been gone with his sight, Had not a young woman come forth o'th' night, Amongst the slain men her fancy doth move To search and to seek her own true love, Who seeing young Monford there gashing to lie, She saved his life through her charity; And then all our victuals in beggars attire, At the hands of good people we then did require; At last into England, as now it is seen, We came and remained at Bednal-green. And thus we have lived in Fortune's despight, Though poor, yet contented, with humble delight, And in my old years a comfort to be, God sent me a daughter call'd pretty Bessee. And thus, you nobles, my song I do end, Hoping the same no man doth offend: Full forty long winters thus I have been, A silly blind beggar of Bednal-green. Now when the company had every one, Heard the strange tale in song he had shown, They were all amazed, as well they might be, Both at the blind beggar and pretty Bessee. With that the fair bride they then did embrace, Saying, You're come of an honourable race, Thy father likewise of a high degree, And thou art worthy a lady to be. Thus was the feast ended with joy and delight, A happy bridegroom was made the young knight, Who lived in joy and felicity With his fair lady, pretty Bessee.
Licens'd and Enter'd according to Order. LONDON: Printed by and for W. Onley; and are to be sold by C. Bates, at the Sign of the Sun and Bible in Pye-corner.